Covariation of the cause and effect of Cannabis and other natural drug remedies.

Why are we encouraged by health professionals to use manmade pharmaceutical drugs to treat medical illnesses; such as, Depression, Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), Parkinson’s Disease and AIDS/ HIV to name a few, when we are aware that in some cases natural remedies have been used successfully by patients with symptoms to relieve pain; such as, drug extracts opium found in the poppy, used in manufacturing codeine and morphine. (Opiate based painkillers),Acupuncture, a Chinese medicine used to relieve stress, Chronic back pain and Cannabis used to relieve symptoms of ME (supplements and herbs), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and AIDS/HIV. (Sidney, 2001 as cited in Cannabis therapeutics in HIV/AIDS).

We have all been guilty to reach for a pill to aid a headache; for instance, but do we really know what chemicals we are digesting. Should we be the ones researching these drugs more effectively before taking them ourselves, rather than solely relying on the drug companies that made and sold them to us. Can we assume that stronger painkillers used for long-term pain relief (Co-Codamol) which is prescribed by our doctors, is actually safe and will not have any long-term side effects; even though the main ingredient is Codeine, an element which is used in the same drug as Morphine from the Opium poppy plant. MHRA, (2006). Would it not be safer to use these naturally grown drugs, rather than to mix them with other man-made chemicals that drug companies have approved themselves, surely there is a bias there and a threat to their research reliability, a threat to validiy.

Not all drugs approved by the government have been safe. It is reported that 1 in 10 people from America, and fifty thousand children in the UK are taking antidepressants drugs, which had once been made legal by drug companies to consume, then later discontinued due to the hazardous and additional side effects. With over 30 varieties to choose from, both the confusion and complexities with risk associated with the drugs are much greater.

In 2003 the UK Department of Health banned antidepressant drug “paroxetine” (used for depression) for the use of those under the age of 18, as they were found to be ineffective and could cause increased suicidal behaviour (Cheung et al., 2005 as cited in BMJ medical journals). These were drugs that were once approved by the government for use after clinical trials.

Natural drugs like Cannabis are used to medicate a variety of conditions such as, depression, anxiety, HIVAIDS-related problems, chronic pain, menstrual cramps, migraine, Narcotic addiction as well as everyday aches, pains, stresses and sleeping difficulties, so why are doctors not pushing the government into prescribing prescription cannabis instead?

Interviews taken for a study into who is using cannabis as a medicine and why, (Ogborne, Smart, Weber, & BirchmoreTimney. 2000) unearths self-medicated cannabis users who prefer Cannabis to treat these conditions. Although few participants interviewed for the study, (n=50) experienced negative experiences, those who told their doctors about their use were found to be unsupportive.

So why, even though we have the evidence that chemicals within these natural drugs do help to relieve chronic symptoms, and are used to self medicate by patients; regardless whether the drug is legal or not, be enough for health professionals to support their patients further, and to research more optimistically into the positive indicators that drugs like these have on chronic conditions. In addition the government should re-evaluate the drugs and their classifications, identifying the use for medicinal purposes only to prescribe for severe medical conditions in the interim, over any drug that is physically made.

So why are these drugs illegal and what evidence do the government have in classifying the drug? Well it would appear the home office is still undecided to their agreement as to how and whether cannabis should be classified, in accordance to their harm and misuse act (1971). Constant changes in the classification of Cannabis have been evident in recent years.

Although Cannabis is currently graded as a class B drug, along side; Amphetamines, Methylphenidate “Ritalin”, Pholcodine) (brought into action during 2009). The classification of the drug was previously classified from a class B to C in 2002, due to acknowledging “the classification of cannabis is disproportionate in relation both to its inherent toxicity, and that of other substances (such as Amphetamines) that are currently within class B”. (Rawlins, M. 2002).

It is hard to believe that more health damaging drugs such as alcohol is legal and is heavily consumed socially, even when it has no health benefits and is ineffectively a poison. The health risks associated with alcohol consumption alone cause: Liver problems, reduced fertility, high blood pressure, increased risk of various cancers and heart attack. NHS, (2012). According to the governments own classification that any drug which falls into the category “in accordance to harm and misuse”; should be classed as a class B. (Misuse of drugs act, 1971) It appears then that the government has failed to recognize their own policies on drug use, ignoring that alcohol is a poison, misused and harmful.

Based on an assumption, this is due to the controlled production of alcohol and the revenue it creates in TAX for the government. Alcohol is not something they would want to legislate against because they are making so much money from it.

A survey of the UK TAX system have identified that the government forecast to make £45.9 billion in 2011-12 from the sale of Alcohol and tobacco products. (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2011). Apposed to Cannabis that can be home grown, cannot be regulated or profited by the government, and can have positive health risk factors which can be seen in the recovery of patients, or by the improvements in their quality of life, following life changing medical diagnoses.

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2 thoughts on “Covariation of the cause and effect of Cannabis and other natural drug remedies.”

1. It does seem puzzling that cannabis consumption and distribution is illegal in the UK, whilst the destructive powers of the legal drug alcohol, both to individuals and to society, are observed with little intervention. The belief that the government ‘turning a blind eye’ to such damaging consequences is due to the money they make from tax on alcohol is disgusting, but worryingly likely. Cannabis is a harmful substance, and although may have beneficial influences over some illnesses, the long-term effects of consumption are little-known. Zammit, Allebeck, Andreasson, Lundberg, and Lewis (1969) found in a longitudinal study that cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia; such findings are not uncommon and should be considered in discussions to legalise cannabis use. Perhaps the question to consider is not whether cannabis should be legalised, but is it time to put strict restrictions on alcohol consumption, or ban it altogether?

Very interesting blog! I personally agree with the fact that if alcohol and tobacco are legal, then cannabis should definately be as well. The legality of cannabis has been the subject of argument and controversy for years. Cannabis is prohibited to consume, possess, grow, and sell in most countries across the world. Yet provoking more controversy is the original reasoning on the prohibition of the drug.
Before it was illegal, hemp production in America was a booming business which looked to overtake the paper industry, with new harvesting equipment being developed. Unfortunately for this business, Harry J. Anslinger, was the head of a new government agency, Bureau of Narcotics. He realised this department was an amazing opportunity for his career, but he knew that opiates and cocaine would not provide enough support to build the agency, so he latched onto marjuana and immediately started working on making it illegal. Here are some of the things this man has said that have been widely attributed to his Gore Files.

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”

Harry J. Anslinger also had help from a friend, William Randolf Hearst. He was the owner of a huge chain of newspapers, and had invested heavily in the timber industry to support his newspaper chain, and didn’t want to see the development of hemp paper in competition. At the time the Mexican revolution had just occured and Hearst had lost a total of 800,000 acres of timberland to Mexicans. So, he had alot of reasons to help Anslinger. To do this he published lucrid lies about Mexicans and marijuana, selling newspapers (making him richer), and brainwashing a large percentage of Americans to believe marijuana.

“By the tons it is coming into this country — the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms…. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him….”

These untruths set the stage for ‘The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937’. After year of secret planning by Anslinger, he brought his plans to congress which allowed the medical, recreational, and industrial uses of hemp illegal. Even with an appearance from Dr. William C. Woodward, Legislative Council of the American Medical Association at the hearing, where he slammed Harry Anslinger and the Bureau of Narcotics for distorting earlier AMA statements that had nothing to do with marijuana and making them appear to be AMA endorsement for Anslinger’s view.
Woodward also repoached the legislature and the Bureau for using the term marujuana, this was a fanatic word used to refer to Mexicans smoking a drug, and had not been connected in most people’s minds to the existing hemp plant. So for the people that had good reasons to oppose the bill weren’t even aware of what they were agreeing to!
So there we have it, Yellow journalism won over medical science in America and is still responsible for the illegality of the drug now!

The reasons for the continued illegality of the drug are as follows:

* Politicians wanting to appear tough on crime and passing tougher penalties
* Constant increases in spending on law enforcement and prisons
* Taxpayer funded propaganda
* Stifling of opposition speech
* Political contributions from corporations that profit from marijuana being illegal (pharmaceuticals, alcohol, etc.)
But this a whole other story…